Agricultural Production and Prehistoric Settlement in the Jama River Drainage, Manabi Province, Ecuador

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This grant permits Drs. Pearsall and Zeidler to conduct one season of fieldwork at the site of San Isidro which is located in the Jama drainage in northern Equador. They will both continue to excavate at the site and undertake a survey of the surrounding reigon. San Isidro contains a large, centrally located earthern mound which suggests that it functioned as a regional ceremonial and administrative center. The site's size and monumental architecture imply the existence of surplus production capable of supporting a dense populaation and materials recovered suggest that San Isidro was a major point of external contact and commodity flow both along the coast of Equador and between the coast and the highlands. Because the stratigraphic and chronological sequence at the site is not well established, the investigators will analyze materials already collected and conduct archaeological testing to locate areas suitable for further stratigraphic excavation. Through survey of the Jama drainage they will locate other sites. Surface collections and limited excavation will be conducted at these as well. The goal of the research is to study the process of demographic growth and the accompanying development of cultural complexity which took place in this tropical area of northern Equador. Although such complex societies arose in the tropics many times in different parts of the world, the underlying processes are not well understood. This research will allow the testing of different models. While Equador is known to be rich in archaeological remains, little archaeological research has been conducted there. This project will help to remedy that situation.